Best Mall

Westfield Northwest (Northwest Plaza)

Chris Rock is fond of saying that "there ain't nothing in the black mall but sneakers and baby clothes." But north county's best black mall, Northwest Plaza -- which just happens to be the best mall in the St. Louis area -- has much, much more: at least four stores for the fashionable black man to buy suits in colors including (but not limited to) orange, pear and powder blue, at least two joints to buy T-shirts with Eazy-E on them, and one of the metro area's best newsstands, Todays News. Though the mall boasts more than a few empty storefronts, sometimes greatness takes time to be recognized. An Ikea is rumored to be on the way, and a Hip-Hop Kafé -- think Hard Rock Café for the G-Unit set -- is scheduled to open in September. You can bet neither one sells baby clothes.